Steelers Need To Be Cautious When It Comes To This Big Name In 2023 Free Agency

The Pittsburgh Steelers will soon be scouring the free agency market to plug some holes and beef up the depth to put them in a better position to compete in 2023. The team as of right now according to OverTheCap.com have slightly more than a million bucks in space to work with, but it can easily make more with some cuts and/or restructuring of contracts for players they do want to bring back, just at an easier cap number to swallow.

General manager, Omar Khan will be overseeing the off-season process for the first time and there's one former AFC North rival on the market that he should probably steer clear of. Jadaveon Clowney may seem like an attractive option to pick up to add another premier pass rusher to pair with Alex Highsmith and TJ Watt, but the former first-overall pick in 2014 has potential buyer's remorse written all over him. 

Why the Steelers Should Stay Away From Clowney

Clowney posted three straight Pro Bowl seasons in his final years with the Houston Texans, but since his trade to the Seattle Seahawks in 2019, has struggled with injuries and inconsistent play. Some may argue he's allowed Myles Garrett to blossom into one of the best pass rushers in the league with 16 sacks in each of the last two years, but Clowney has missed eight games injured or not active. It's those factors combined with the money he is likely to command as a former first-overall pick that pushed Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox to put the former South Carolina standout on his Steeler buyer beware list. 

"The 29-year-old is a notable name, but he's going to be costly. He has never signed a free agent deal worth less than $8 million annually, and he isn't likely to join Pittsburgh on a team-friendly contract," Knox said about the possibility of the Steelers pursuing Clowney. "While the 2014 No. 1 pick can be disruptive in stretches, he has struggled to maintain a high level of play year in and year out. Even as a third rotational rusher, Clowney is too unreliable for Pittsburgh, and he's too expensive for that role."

The other potential factor to consider is if he wants to play for the team at all. Clowney was inactive for both games against Pittsburgh this year and reports came out that he was unhappy with his role, so the team sent him home instead of having him line up on the field in Week 18. 

Head coach, Mike Tomlin is famous for wanting volunteers and not hostages. In the 2021 season when Melvin Ingram was seemingly upset with his usage in Pittsburgh, the team shipped him off to the Kansas City Chiefs at the trade deadline. If Clowney is going to demand out, that's an expensive contract to sign to then trade for a late-round pick. 

If the organization decides to add to the depth at the outside linebacker position in free agency, they should look elsewhere.

Some of the other names Knox highlighted as sore thumbs to avoid were Browns cornerback, Greedy Williams and former Steelers defensive tackle, Javon Hargrave. Williams seemingly makes sense as a budget option, but with the team likely to bring back Cameron Sutton, plus already having Levi Wallace and maybe bringing in a rookie corner from a high pick in the draft, it doesn't make much sense. As for Hargrave, well a reunion would be nice, he's likely priced himself out of Pittsburgh's range with his play the past two seasons.